Shoe last



Nov. 30, 1948. v G. CLAUSING SHOE LAST Filedoct. 6. 1945 IN V EN TOR.

m m, 0 m Q www :TT'Ys "made upon a P is- Patentecl Nov. 3%, 1943 SHOE LAST George Clausing, Portsmouth, Ohio, assignor to I Vulcan Corporation, Portsmouth, Ohio Application October 6, 1945, Serial No. 620,697

6 Claims. (01. 12-435) This invention relates to improvements in shoe lasts and has for its principal object the provision of a means for precluding the formation of score marks or ridges on the insoles of shoes last having rectilinearly movable Another important object of this invention is to provide a two part last which has a novel expansive and contractive action for permitting ready insertion of said last into a shoeand also its removal therefrom.

A further objection of the invention is to provide in a two part last having a rectilinearly directed expansive and contractive action a means for preventing scoring and ridging of the insole of shoes made thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to pro- ;vide, a simplified and effective device for attain- "ing the aforementioned advantageous objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel-means for preventing ridge formation on shoe insoles made upon a two part last, said means being adapted to cooperate with certain last parts and their functions to secure positive action and improved, reenforced last parts.

Qther objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, it being understood that the foregoing statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side, elevational view of my shoe last infllast expanded. position, parts being broken away to clearly show the relation of parts.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the shoe last illustrated in Fig. l in contracted condition, parts being broken away to disclose other parts'in central, longitudinal cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of my last bottom.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line di of Fig. 1.

My shoe last comprises a fore part 5 and a back part 5 which are arranged for relative movement into expanded or contracted position by means of a pair of parallel guide rods I and 8. As clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the guide rods extend longitudinally of the last and have their respective axes disposed in a plane inclined to the longitudinal axis of the last, said longitudinal axis being parallel to the mean bottom surface 9 of the last back part, which as illustrated in Fig. 2, is in a substantially horizontal pla'ne for the particular last illustrated.

The guide rods I and 8 are slidably received in-inclined bores I0 and l I respectively formed in the fore part 5, whilst the rear portions of said rods are held in bores 12 and I3 respectively formed in the back part 6. Wood plugs l4 maintain the guide rods in operative position within their respective bores. Each of the parts may be provided with the usual thimbles or bushings I5 for mounting the last on a suitable jack (not shown). It will therefore be noted that when the last parts are moved from last expanded position, illustrated in Fig. 1, to last contracted position as shown in Fig. 2, or vice versa, the inclined guide means imparts a relative movement to said last parts which is directed along a rectilinear path inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axisof the last. The acute angle has legs formed by the longitudinal axis of the last and the extension of the rectilinear path of the guided heel part. These legs diverge from the apex in a directionrearwardly of the last. For example, when the last moves from expanded to contracted positions the back part 6 moves downwardly on the guide rods toward the forepart 5,

the mean bottom surface 9 of the back part retaining a horizontal position throughout said relative movement. This action facilities the insertion of my last into a shoe for upon locating the 'fore part 5 in the position it normally'occupies withi'n the toe portion of said shoe it is only necessaryto move the back part toward its operative expanded-position, said movement permitting the bottom 9 of the back part to gradually approach the heelinsole of the shoe'and to firmly contact said insole in said last expanded position. In re- -movingthe last from the shoe a reverse action occurs, said back part bottom 9 gradually moving 40.

away from the heel insole as the back part is moved to its contracted position whereupon the "-l'a'st' may bereadily removed from said shoe.

The means for preventing the formation of ridges or score marks on the insoles of shoes made upon my two part last comprises a heel plate It fastened to the bottom surface of the back part 6 by a plurality of nails [1. The heel plate has a forwardly extending portion [3 which terminates in a tapered, transverse end l9. As clearly indicated in Fig. 1 the tapered end E9 of this extension engages the lower rear edge 20 of the fore part 5 when the last parts are in expanded position, said lower edge 20 having a complementary taper to receive the tapered end IS on the heel plate extension. The novel relative movement between the insole engaging surfaces of a two part last having rectilinearly directed expanding and contracting action. When the last is in its normal expanded position. said extension offers a rigid means which is flush with thelast under surface, for contacting the shoeinsole-to prevent. the formation of transverse ridges or score marks on the insole when operativepressure isappli'ed on said shoe during the manufacturing process.

. A. means; f orlockingthe last; parts. in expanded position-isv a; device which; isset. forth in Batent Ne, 2,,4119 -,9 4i granted; .on May 6;,19451', and: which 'maywcomprisea flat link. Z l pivotally mounted on .a transverse pin. 22 carried: by theback' part. The

tree: end; of the link is provided. with a notch 23 which oooperateswith a, transverse pin 24 carried bythe;-fone= partto; hold the parts in expanded position, link is.- urged against, the. pin 24 by a! compression spring; 25 seated in a depression normed. in; the back; part it and hearing at its upper end against. the bottom of? said link. The lock may be. tripped by a suitable bumper tool which bears. downwardly on. the. central portion ot the against the. action. of the spring 2.5 and moves the: notch 23 out. of engagement with the transverse pin Ilhe last. p rts: m y thfin be; manually moved togetherto: the contracted position; indicated in 2.

Whatis claimed: is; I

Li; A. shoe last comprisingv a fore part; a back rant. and: lon itudinallyextending inclined guide me ns forimpert -ngrreetiiinear movement to said la t p r al n sa pathinclined at an acuteengle relainve; to: thelongistudinal axis of .saidlast upon extension; ahdcontraction oi. the parts, thereof.

. said acute angle; having legs formed by'the inter- ..section of the rectilinear path. and the longitude rial. axis 02 theilastwhich diverge in a direction rearward-1y of the last.

,2. A shoe lastvconsisting of a fore part,. a back part, and a pair of longitudinally extending guide rods having their axes disposed a plane. inclined with respect to the longitudinal; axis ofthe last,

said guide.- rods imparting rectilinear movement,

part, and a pai-rof longitudinally extending guide rods having their axes disposed; in a plane inclinedwith respect-to the longitudinal axis; of

the. last, said guide; rods imparting rectilinear movement to said last parts along a path lying in the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the last.

4. A shoe last comprising a fore part, a back part, a pair of longitudinally extending inclined guide rods for imparting rectilinear movement to said last parts along a path inclined at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said last upon extension or contraction of the last parts, the legs of said acute angle being formed by the intersection of said rectilinear path and the longitudinal axis of the last and which diverge in a direction rearwardly of the last.

5. A shoe last comprising a fore part having a taperediportion; along its lower rear edge, a back part normally spaced from the fore part and having a mean bottom surface parallel to the Iongitudinal axis of the last, parallel guide rods for the last parts having their axes disposed in a plane inclined relative: to the mean bottom surface of the back part, said guide rods being adapted, to provide relative movement. for each last part along a lineinclinedwith respect. to the longitudinal axis 0t said last, a heel plate. fixed toithe bottom. of the back part and. having a forwardly extending portion, a tapered transverse edge on the extending portion for normally engaging the tapered edge of the fore part, and means. for lockingthe partsvv in normal expanded position.

6. A shoe last comprising. a fore part having a tapered portion. along itslower rear edge, a back part. normally spaced from the fore part and having a mean bottom surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the last, parallel guide rods for the last parts having their axes inclined relative to the mean bottom surface of the back part, said guiderods being. adaptedto .provide relative movement for each last part along a line inclined with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said last, a. heel: plate fixed: to: the bottom of the back. part and having a forwardly extending portion, a ta.- poised transverse edge on the extending portion for normally engagingthe tapered edge of the fore part, and means for locking the parts. in normal. expanded position.

' GEORGE CLAUSING.

REFERENCES CITED The tollowing references are of record in. the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date L,664,29.3 Gubitosi Mar. 27', 1928 2,016,1456' Konheim Oct. 1,1935

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country v Date 240,743 Germany Nov. 15, 1.921 282,911. Italy Feb. 25, 1931 

